🕒 4 minutes
In this article:
- Why women veterans represent a distinct and underserved patient group
- The data behind the disparity in health outcomes
- The specific health challenges women veterans face after service
- How to take the first step in getting the care and support you deserve
Always part of the story
Women have always been part of Australia’s defence story. They have served in conflict zones, peacekeeping missions, and support roles spanning every corner of the globe. As of 2022–23, women make up approximately 20% of the Australian Defence Force’s permanent workforce.
Yet when most people picture a veteran, the image that comes to mind is rarely a woman.
This visibility gap is not just cultural. It has real consequences for how women’s post-service health needs are identified, researched, funded, and treated. On International Women’s Day, we want to do our bit to change that by naming what the evidence shows.
A clear picture in data
The health statistics for ex-serving women in Australia are sobering. They also matter because data is what drives policy, shapes healthcare systems, and ultimately determines whether women who have served receive the care they’ve earned.
- Women veterans have suicide rates 107% higher than Australian women in the general population (data spanning 1997–2021).
- Among those who were involuntarily medically discharged, the risk is even more acute, up to 5.2 times more likely to die by suicide than non-veteran women.
- Approximately 52% of ex-serving women report living with long-term health conditions, compared to 36% of non-veteran women.
- Women veterans over 65 experience higher rates of arthritis and heart disease than their civilian counterparts.
These are not abstract statistics. They represent women who served, women who gave significant parts of their lives in service to this country, and who are now navigating health systems that weren’t always designed with them in mind.
The health challenges women veterans face
The range of health issues affecting ex-serving women is broad and, in many cases, connected. Physical demands, psychological stress, service culture, and systemic gaps in research all contribute to a complex health picture.
Health Area |
What the evidence shows |
| Mental Health | Higher rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety compared to both civilian women and male veterans. Military sexual trauma (MST) is a significant but often under-reported contributing factor. |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders | Physical demands of service lead to chronic pain, joint conditions, and injuries which often go undertreated or misattributed in women. |
| Cardiovascular Disease | Women veterans over 65 show elevated rates of heart disease compared to non-veteran women, a gap not yet fully understood by researchers. |
| Arthritis | Higher prevalence in older women veterans, linked to the physical toll of service roles. |
| Reproductive & Hormonal Health | Gaps remain in how service-related exposures and stressors affect reproductive health outcomes. This area is historically under-researched. |
| Military Sexual Trauma (MST) | MST encompasses sexual harassment and assault experienced during service. Its health impacts (both physical and psychological) are lasting and often inadequately addressed. |
What these areas have in common is that they are frequently under-reported, under-researched, and under-treated, particularly in women. Many women leave service without fully understanding what support they may be entitled to, or without feeling confident that their experiences will be taken seriously.
Your health is worth speaking up for
If you are an ex-serving woman living with health challenges, whether they’ve been formally linked to your service or not, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
The first step is a conversation with a doctor who understands the veteran experience. One who won’t ask you to justify your history or minimise your symptoms. One who will listen.
- If you’re not sure where to from here, you can book a chat with our Veteran Ambassador.
- Want to explore if natural therapies could enhance your treatment plan? A consult is the right place to start. We can guide you through DVA requirements and help you understand your options.
Don’t stay silent. Speak up about your health. You’ve earned the right to be heard.
If you need support now
If you’re struggling, please reach out. You don’t have to be in crisis to ask for help.
- Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7, free, confidential)
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)
Sources:
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (2025). Women Veterans 2025 Baseline Data Report.
dva.gov.au – Women Veterans Baseline Data Report
Kinnane, T. (2023). Presentation on women veterans’ health. Australian Military Medicine Association Annual Conference.
amma.asn.au – Tara Kinnane Presentation
Monash University – Women Veterans Support. Project Background.
monash.edu – Women Veterans Support
PubMed Central – Peer-reviewed research on women veterans’ health outcomes.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov – Women Veterans Research
This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual health outcomes vary. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific health needs and circumstances.
